Electroplating apparatus



Jan. 6. 1925.

Filed May 27. 1922 J. T. DANIELS ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS 2- Sheets-Sheet 1 T .i i

WITNESSES HUM livl/Elvron J 21D dnie Ze A TTORIVEYS Jan. 6. 1925. 1,522,422

- J. T. DANlELS ELECTROPLA-TING APPARATUS Filed May 27. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR J. 5?; Dan-(1e Z6 1 1' 2 My W J ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 6, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHNT. DANIELS, 01E NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

ELEGTROFLATING APPARATUS,

Application filed May 27,

I vision of means whereby the operation of electroplating articles in volume can be very efficiently expedited and simplified so as to reduce the time and the labor required.

Another object resides in the provision of means whereby a more uniform plating action is insured.

A further object resides in the provision of means whereby the life of the electrolyte and the electrodes is increased.

A still further object resides in the provision of means whereby any sediment formed will settle out of the path of the current andin a separate portion of the apparatusby itself.

' Another object resides in the provision of means whereby the apparatus can be quickly adjusted, even while in action.

A further object resides in the provision of means whereby the conduction of current is made especially positive so that very little voltage loss, due to the imperfect contact, results.

A still further object resides in the pro vision of means whereby the electrodes are separated in such manner that a direct path between one electrode and the others cannot be formed by the articles to be plated.

Another object resides in the particular construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter described and'claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings, of which- Figure 1 is an elevation of the machine with the drum in the vertical position.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 with the drum adjusted in an inclined position, in which position' it generally operates.

The form of the invention shown in the 1922." Serial-N0. 564,049.

drawing is a'preferredform, although it is understood that modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts and in the character of the materials used may be adopted without departing from the spirit of the invention.

' As shown in the drawings, the invention includes the use of an open-ended drum 1, preferably made of any suitable insulating material which is also not afiectedby electrolyte'solution. Disposed against and closing the lower end of the drum is a disk of suitable insulating material 2. A ring of insulating material 3 is disposed within and at the lower end of the drum and is adapted to receive tightening means such as screws 4: extending thereinto from the disk 2. This inner annular ring 3 is provided with a shoulder 5 on which is seated a perforated plate or diaphragm 6 of any suitable material, preferably insulating material.

The drum 1 is provided along its side walls with a plurality'of electrodes-7. These electrodes are spaced apart around the sides of the drum and are connected to the exterior of the drum by means of conducting and clamping screws 8. These screws at their outer ends are connected to conducting plates 9 provided with flanges 10 at their lower ends to which clampingscrews 11 are fastened- These clamping screws 11 are connected at their heads with a collar ring 12 hearing and fastened against the outer edges of the cover or disk 2. A thin plate of any suitable concealing material 13 is disposed between each electrode 7 and the inner wall of the drum 1.

Between the perforated plate 6 and the bottom of the drum 1 dispose another electrode 14, preferably in the form of a round disk of any suitable material. This is mounted on a tapered sleeve 15 journaled in an aperture in the cover or disk 2. This sleeve surrounds the end of'a shaft 16; A plate 17 is disposed between one face of the electrode 14 and the perforated plate 6, and a screw or other adjusting means 8 extends between the center of the perforated plate 6 and the end of the shaft to bind the parts together.

Against the bottom of the disk 2 Idispose a washer plate 19 and a conducting disk 20. These are fastened against the bottom of the disk 2 by screws 21. A conducting brush 22 bears against the disk 20 to conduct current to the electrode 14.

Similarly, a brush 23 bears against the collar ring 12 to conduct current to the electrodes 7, all of which are connected to the same ring 12. The brushes 22 and 23 are mounted on a frame 24. This frame comprises bearings 25 and 26 for the shaft 16 and side plates 27 and 28 disposed adjacent bracket plates 29 and 30 connected together at their lower ends by a clamping plate 31. This clamping plate 31 is provided with clamping means such as 32 to fasten the plate 31 to any suitable support such as 33. One of the plates, such as 29, may be provided with a plurality of regularlyspaced apertures 34 with which an aperture 35 in one of the plates, such as 27, is adapted to be alined in accordance with the position of the frame 24, and through which alined apertures a locking pin 36 extends. This locking pin is thus holding the frame 24 in a definite position with respect to the bracket plates 29 and 30 and, consequently, fixing the position of the frame 1 so that the drum can be operated either vertically or in any inclined position and can even be tipped over so far as to dump its contents when desired. The shaft 16 is provided with a gear 37 meshing with a worm gear 38 on a driving shaft 39. This driving shaft 39'is alined in registration with the axis of the center of the bracket plates'29 and 30 around which the frame 24 pivots, so that in different positions of the frame 24 with respect to its support the rotation of. the drum can be properly effected. The brush 23 is mounted on'a face of insulating material such as 40 and is connected by a wire 41 to another brush 42 adapted to contact with and slide over the plate 43 mounted on oneof the bracket plates, such as 29, so that even though the operating parts are moved, with respect to the support, over the plate, current can be conducted thereto. Any suitable terminal wire can be connected to the brush 22, although such a wire is not shown. In the operation of the device, the drum is preferably first disposed in the vertical position shown in Fig. 1 and then loaded with the desirednumber of articles to be plated'and with a sufficient quantity of electrolyte. It is then'adjusted in the manner above described 'at the desired inclination and power applied to rotate it. In this manner, therefore, the drum will roll over, moving the articles within it and constantly moving the electrolyte and the articles with respect to the group of electrodes 7, which are constantly moving aroundand succes sively presenting themselves in the electrolyte on the side opposite the articles to be plated from the other electrode 14. This secber with the electrode 14 and, consequently,

out of contact with the work being treated. As the electrolyte and the electrodes are constant-ly changing their relative positions, the wear on the electrodes and the deterioration in the strength of the electrolyte is made much more uniform so that they last longer and so that the plating action is much more uniform and effective than hitherto has been possible in devicesof this general type. It can be readily perceived that even when the drum is rotating the frame 24*can be adjusted in a new position when desired without stopping the movement ofthe drum. The current conduction of the apparatus is very simple and positive so' that very little voltage loss is due to imperfectcontact.

In other words it is apparent that I have provided a simple, efiicient, strong, durable device which can be very readily manipulated and in which the tendency to deterioration of the parts and the electroplating elementsdisposed therein during the operatlon is reduced to a minimum and in which the labor and time required to operate the device is also substantially reduced.

WhatIclaim is: a

1. In an electroplating apparatus ar0- tating drum open at one end, an insulating disc adapted to close the other end, an insulating ring bearingagainst said disc on the inside thereof, a perforated plate sup ported on saidring'some distance from the plate. whereby a chamber is formed between the disc and the plate and a disclike electrode supported within each-said chamber.

2. In an electroplating apparatus a rotating drum open at one end, an insulating disc adapted to close the other end, an insulating ring bearin'gagainst said disc on the inside thereof, a perforated platesupported on said ring some distance fromthe plate, whereby a chamber is formed between the disc andthe plate and a disclike electrode supported within the said chamber, a plurality of other electrodes fastenedto the inner side walls of the drum flanged plates disposed on the outside of the drum and conductively connected therethrough witheach electrode and means connecting the flanges on said plates with the insulating plate at the bottom of the drum, said means being adjustable, whereby the insulating plate can be held firmly against the bottom of the drum and electroplating apparatus, which includes an open-ended drum having a manipulating plate closing bottom thereof and insulating ring disposed around the inner edge of the drum and bearing against said plate and perforated disc supported on top of said ring and a disclike electrode disposed betWeen the disc and the plate, a con ducting disc supported on the bottom of the insulating plate and connected to the electrodes and frame from Which said drum is rotatably supported, and a conducting brush bearing against the conducting disc whereby current can be led to said electrode during the rotation of the drum.

JOHN T, DANIELS. 

